Vehicle-gear



(No Model.)

C. GUSS'ETT. VEHICLE GEAR.

No. 469,445. Patented 41413.23, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

CHARLES GUSSETT, OF CINCINNATI, IIIO.

VEHICLE-GEAR..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 469,445, dated February 23, 1892.

Application filed July 24, 1891.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES GUssErT, a citizen of the United States, and a residentof Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Gears, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to vehicle runninggears, and particularly to the ifth-wheeland means connected to it for coupling the axle to the bolster. Its obj ect is to provide a simple, strong, and durable fifth-wheel device and means for coupling it to the gear, whereby the wear and friction in this class ofV devices is reduced to a minimum and the strain upon each part equally distributed. These obj ects I attain by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in connection with which the invention will be first fully described, and then particularly referred to and pointed out in the claims. j

Referring to the drawings, in whichflike parts are indicated by similar reference-letters wherever they occur throughout the various views, Figure l is a plan view of my device. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the same with the front axle turned at an angle to the head-block or bolster. Fig. 3 lis a longitudinal vertical section through line .t of v Fig. l. Fig. 4 is aplan view of the front axle with the lower iron of the fifth-wheel secured upon it and the king-bolt bearing secured to the front of the axle-cap. Fig. 5 is a detail view in elevation of the parts of the king-bolt bearing separated.

Referring to the parts by reference-letters, A is the front axle; A', the axle-cap; B, the head-block or bolsters; B', a broken section of the customary spring, which is clipped upon the head-block to sustain the front end of the wagon body. (Not shown.) These parts are of ordinary construction, and need not therefore be specifically described.

The upper member ofthe fifth-wheel has its gearcoupling connections formed integral with it. It consists of a segmental plate C, iianged or L-shaped in cross-section, which forms the upper track of the fifth-wheel. This track-plate has cast integral with it the bar c, which crosses the ends of the segment and terminates in perforatedears c', which Serial No. 400,560. (No model.)

receive bolts that pass through these ears and the head-block and receive tightening-nuts upon the under side. It has also laterallyprojecting lugs c2 to receive the screw-threaded ends of the clip-bolts b, which secure the spring l upon the head-block and assist to secure the trackplate bar c underneath it. Forwardly the b ar c has an upwardly-projecting angle-flange c3, with atubular boss c4 in front of it to receive the king-boltD. The bar chas also a rearwardly-extending lug-plate cG terminating in a downwardly-extending perforated boss c7, from the lowerend of which the reach-irons c8 extend rearwardly. The segment C has upward projections c9 upon. each side of the bar c to form seats for the headblock B.

The lower member of the fifth-wheel device consists of the segmental plates E E, which are united by the transverse plate e. The enlarged ends e of the segments E have semicircular perforations countersunk upon the upper side to receive the heads of the bolts e2, the fiat sides of which bear against each side of the axle and cap. The lower ends of these bolts, which are circular and screwthreaded, pass through lugs f, which project laterally from a plate F underneath the axle and have tightening-nuts to hold the segments firmly in place. The plate F has also a forwardly-projecting perforated lug f2 to receive the lower end of the tubular king-bolt bearing G, which has laterally-projecting perforated lugs g to receive bolts which pass through them and the axle-cap to hold the bearing in place. This bearing G has a V-shaped rear extension g to enter a corresponding notch cut centrally in the edge of the transverse bar e, so that no measuring is required to truly center the king-bolt bearing.

The parts above described are braced by a single casting H, which forms the support for the outer part of the segment C and the lower plates for supporting the reaches I. This brace is secured underneath the plate F by the king-bolt and the bolt c5. It extends forward and curves upward to the plate G, which has a downwardly-extending perforated boss which rests upon the horizontal part It, the forward end of which is seated in'a notch in the iiange of the segment C. This, with the IOO a [leali/15 upwardly-extending lip h and the bolt passing through the perforated boss and part h, securely braces the upper fth-wheel member C. In rear of the axle the piece H has an upwardly-extending boss h2, which meets the boss c7. The perforation in both bosses register to receive the bolt c5, which will hold the fifth-wheel members together, even should the king-bolt break or its nut be Worked off in use. From 'the upper rear portion of the boss h2 the reach-supporting part h3 extends rearwardly in the present instance. The reachs'upports are bifurcated for use with a double perch or reach or two reach-bars I I. The lower part of the half-boxes are transversely slotted to pass the ends of the reach-straps t'. The forward ends of these are first turned downward at a rightangle to ent-er the slots in the part h3, and after the parts are secured together these projecting ends are turned down upon the bottoms of the brace-supports, as seen at t" i', to serve as an additional security and relieve the reach-securing bolts from strain.

The lower part G of `the king-bolt bearing has la collar below its reduced upper end, and the part 'c4 is bored out to receive the upper end of 'the part G. (See Fig. 5.) These tubular 'parts will thusserve the purpose of a kingboltgshould the bolt D be absent.

1. In a running-gear for vehicles, the comsion to support the segment C, tubular exten-l sion h2, and reach-supports 71,3, the king-bolt bearing G,kingabolt D, and bolt c5 to hold the parts together, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination of the upper fifth-wheel member C, L-shaped in cross-section and having the cross-bar c, tubular parts c4t 'c7 and reach-supports c8 cast integral therewith, the lower ifth wheel member consisting of the segments E E, the bar e, connecting said segments, said V:segments having semicircular countersunk perforations, the clip-bolts efor securingsaid bar upon the axle, the brace-bar H, having forward extension with seats h h for the segment C to rest upon, and the tubular extensions h2 and reach-supports h3, the plate F, having laterally-extending perforated lugs f to receive the clip-bolts and f2 to receive the king-bolt bearing, the king bolt bearing G, having its lower end within the lug fand its upper end within the part c4, and the bolts D c5 for securing the parts together, substantially as shown and described.

3. The lcombination of the head-block and axle, the tifthwheel member composed of the segment C, connecting-bar c, secured underneath the head-block and having the tubular extensions c4 c7 and lugs c ,and the reach-supports o8, made in asingle piece, the lower fthwheel :member consisting of th'esegments E E, bar e, the kingbolt bearing G, secured in front of the axle, the clip-bar F, having perforated lugs f for the clip-boltsand the perforated lng f2 for the bearing G, the brace H, having forward bracket-extension `to support the segment c, rearward extension 71,3 to form reach-supports, and the perforated boss h2, said rearward extension being slotted, the reaches I, the vreach-straps 01, having their forward ends passed through lthe perforations Yin the parts h3 and turnedover, as kat '11', and the bolts D and c5, combined and arranged substantially as shown, .and for the purpose set forth.

CHARLES GUSSETT. Vitnesses:

GEO. J. MURRAY, FRANK S. DAvIs.' 

